As there are officially 71 days left until the start of the Paris Olympics 2024, local media is anticipating that in total, there will be around six prospective Maltese athletes who will be competing in this International manifestation.
Until now, no Maltese athlete has managed to qualify on his or her own merit and so if there is no automatic qualification result, as may be the case in shooting, all of them will be participating with the scheme of Universality Placing or with the Tripartite scheme; an invitation issued by a special Commission.
The Tripartite Scheme is used to ensure that with an agreement between the IOC (International Olympic Committee), ANOC (Association of National Olympic Committees) and the International Federations there is as much appropriate representation as possible, especially of those countries whose athletes struggle to obtain the qualification, as is the case of Malta.
Not all countries can benefit from the Universality Placings. The countries eligible for the scheme are as follows: 35 from the African Continent, 18 from the Americas, 17 from Asia, 14 from Oceania and 9 countries from the European Continent.
The European countries that will benefit from the Universality Placings are Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino and Malta.
Which are the sporting disciplines and the Maltese athletes that can go to the Paris Olympics 2024?
The Maltese Olympic Committee is assured that it will be represented in Swimming and Athletics through the Universality Placings.
In Swimming the favorites according to the points obtained with a special system until now are Sasha Gatt (1500m, 800m, 400m freestyle) and Dylan Cachia (1500m, 800m, 400m freestyle). But with the latest change in the regulations of the World Aquatics, Kyle Micallef (50m freestyle), an Australian swimmer with a Maltese passport who also won the gold medal in the 50m freestyle at the GSSE Malta 2023, also has a chance.
In Athletics the favorite is Jordan Gusman who is trying for the Full Marathon in Paris. Athletes Beppe Grill, Gina McNamara and Claire Azzopardi also have a chance with the accumulative points system throughout the season.
In Shooting, Clive Farrugia in the Skeet discipline is trying to qualify through the last competition in Lonato Italy this week as Eleanor Bezzina is trying to do the same in the Air Pistol with the last chance in the competition which you will take part in in Croatia these days.
In Weightlifting the chance for Tenishia Thornton is to compete in the 59kg category through the Tripartite
In Judo a chance to participate also with the Tripartite for Katryna Esposito in 48kg and for Isaac Bezzina in 100kg.